Reduce Stress & Feel Great
“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.”
Are you someone who has a lot of stress in your life?
Someone who gets stressed out easily?
Have loved ones who battle stress on a day to day basis?
Or someone who just wants to balance their high stress lifestyles?
Well.. this ones for you!
Stress can be good and it can be bad. Having stress is totally normal but having too much of it just isn't normal and can have a huge impact on many things in our bodies.. Let's take a dive into what stress is.
The Breakdown of Cortisol
Cortisol, the main “ stress hormone” is the most complex and misunderstood hormone. Cortisol acts on many parts of our body, it can help but it can also damage. Learning the difference between good and bad is super important. Cortisol prepares our body’s for “ fight or flight” response which is our body’s natural response to respond to any threats. Cortisol can act on many parts of our bodies and can help:
The body’s response to stress or danger
Increase the body’s metabolism of glucose
May affect blood pressure
May reduce inflammation
High Cortisol
High Cortisol is when your body is making too much cortisol often called overactive adrenals/HPA axis dysfunction or in the worst case scenario Cushing Syndrome.
Overactive Adrenals
This is when your Adrenals start making an excessive amount of certain hormones. The symptoms depend on which hormone was excessively made:
Aldosterone: overproduction of aldosterone can lead to high blood pressure
Symptoms include: Low potassium levels , muscle spasms, muscle aches
Androgenic Steroids: overproduction of Androgenic Steroids can lead to over exaggerated characteristics of a male in both men and women
Symptoms include: balding, acne, hairiness on face, deeper voice
Corticosteroid: overproduction can lead to Cushing Syndrome
Cushing Syndrome
Cushing Syndrome can occur when your body has been producing too much of the stress hormone Cortisol over a long period of time
Symptoms that women may experience with Cushing Syndrome:
Thicker or more visible body and facial hair
Irregular or absent menstrual periods
A few other symptoms include:
Headache
infections
Depression
Anxiety
Muscle weakness
Low Cortisol
Low cortisol occurs when your body does not produce sufficient amounts of cortisol the body needs often called Adrenal Insufficiency/ HPA axis dysfunction or worst case scenario, Addison's disease.
Adrenal Insufficiency
Inadequate production of certain hormones can cause these symptoms:
Fatigue
Body aches
Unexplained weight loss
Low blood pressure
Loss of body hair
Skin discoloration
Adrenal Insufficiency can be determined by blood tests
Addison’s Disease
Addison’s disease or adrenal insufficiency is an uncommon disorder, This disease can be life threatening and can occur in any age group and can occur in both males and females.
A few symptoms of Addison’s Disease:
Extreme fatigue
Weight loss
Salt cravings
Low blood sugar
Nausea
Abdominal pain
Irritability
Joint pain
Let’s Balance Our Cortisol!
Lifestyle Recommendations:
Getting sufficient amounts of sleep each night (minimum of 8 hours)
Limit alcohol intake
Avoiding caffeine
Avoiding processed, packaged and refined foods
Practicing meditation, yoga and or breathwork
Getting at least 30 mins of light exercise daily
Getting epsom salts baths regularly
Supplement Recommendations:
(Please seek guidance from your natural healthcare provider before starting a new supplement)
Magnesium: Magnesium is like a natural relaxant and can help naturally bring down high amounts of stress
Ashwaganda: This apoptogenic l herb can help the body come down into a state of balance therefore reducing stress
Vitamin B12: B12 can help reduce stress by promoting a healthy nervous system
There are so many different vitamins, minerals and herbs that can help balance Cortisol levels.
I encourage you to consult your natural health care professional if you have any questions or any concerns you may have about your Cortisol levels as it can be harmful if left untreated!
